Let’s pretend I only understood the part: “become worn through constant rubbing”. Well, maybe that’s what the challenge is about: Finding what it means to you.

In 2009, I went to Poland, where I visited Auschwitz, but I think I have written enough about it. While in Poland, I also visited the Wieliczka Salt Mine.

Taking my interpretation of the word, I see these salt mines as something beautiful, but finite. The constant contact of visitors will, eventually, erode the beautiful art works there sculpted. I love the place, but maybe from the work that disappears, a new blank canvas will be left for another to be made.

Once upon a time, the sea extended all the way back to Krakow. During the last ice age, when sea levels went down, large bodies of water were trapped by the continents. Over many years, the water evaporated and, having no river flowing into it, left behing a very large area of salt, like the Uyuni Salt Flats in Bolivia. It was mined for 800 years before going out of operation. It’s been a tourist attraction since the 15th century, with its beautiful salt cathedral (everything sculpted from salt, including the chandeliers). Notable visitor include Copernicus, Goethe and Chopin! Worth a visit!

Like this:

I am an obsessive travel planner. I decide to travel to a place months in advance and I obsessively research every inch of the city/country. Maybe that’s a good thing, optimize time if you know exactly where to go and the cool and odd things about the place.

We stayed at a hostel very close to the Krakow Market Square. We just dropped the bags an went out for a walk, when the first oddity struck me. Well, I had seen photos of the church many times, but it is always different seeing it in front of you! It is just an odd church. Well, for starters, the different towers of St. Mary’s Church and the many legends why they are different. My favourite (a bit of grim story) is the story of two brothers, both architects, that were designing a tower each. One of the brothers grew jealous of the other brother’s work and murdered him. Once the brother was out of the way, he had the chance to building a taller and more impressive tower. Is it true? Who knows! Well, once of those urban legends that just perpetuated through the years.